Weekend Youth Naturalist - Sycamore Island

The River Parkway Trust invites you and your children ages 6-9 to join us on an outdoor adventure! The Weekend Youth Naturalist Program aims to equip the next generation with skills to be natural explorers and stewards of the Earth through fun, exploratory learning activities. Each 2.5 hour trip includes a nature hike, scientific exploration activity, sensory or experiential activity, and snack at a property along the San Joaquin River Parkway. This program will take place at Sycamore Island, located at 39664 Ave 7 ½, Madera, CA. Directions on how to check in once on site are provided in an automatic confirmation e-mail sent when registration is completed. Tentative program overview: Nature Walk/Scavenger Hunt: observe plant and animal species that live along the San Joaquin, learn basic identification skills, and practice observing nature from a different view point (matching colors on paint chips to colors found in nature, etc.) Creepy Crawlies: use long handled nets to collect aquatic macroinvertebrates from the banks of the river, use hand lenses and viewing scopes to observe behavior and movement, and identify different organisms using provided charts. Canoeing: learn the basics of safe boating before launching on a closed pond next to the San Joaquin to practice paddling skills; note: parents must canoe with their children; no child will be allowed to canoe without a parent present and participating in the same boat. This adventure requires your child to be between the ages of 6 and 9 to participate. Please note that there is a $20.00 fee per child and advanced registration with online payment is required for participation (please only select the number of CHILD participants when registering). Please make sure there is no www. in the web address when registering as the registration may not be completed if there is; once successfully registered you will receive an automatic confirmation e-mail. Due to the extra staff required and wear and tear on materials involved with canoeing, the price for this trip is slightly higher than regular Weekend Youth Naturalist Program trips, and participant siblings of other ages will not be able to participate in this trip. Register online at: https://riverparkway.org/index.php?option=com_civicrm&task=civicrm/event/info&reset=1&id=1154